Make Spring Break a Clean Break

Even though we’re still in the middle of winter, it’s heartening to think that spring is only one month away. And with the season of new beginnings comes the much-anticipated Spring Break from school. With the kids and teachers out of the building it’s the perfect time for your commercial cleaning company to get in there, do a deep dive and help classrooms, libraries, gyms, locker rooms, cafeterias, restrooms and teacher lounges recover from a semester of wear and tear.  

The following tips will help ensure your school is looking its best and is a safe place to be during the final months of the school year:

1. Create a Plan. Cleaning staff should have a detailed playbook of exactly what “extra” tasks need to be completed and bigger issues need to be addressed during the spring break week. Knowing and understanding any additional jobs required will enable staff to get right to work once school is out.
2. Check Supply Inventory. It’s helpful to conduct a supply inventory before the break. Are chemicals and safety materials on hand and properly labeled? Is equipment in good working order? Is the janitorial closet clean, organized and well stocked? Nothing is worse than wasting valuable time looking for supplies or fixing problems that could have been addressed before the break.
3. Target Touch Points. A study of two Michigan elementary schools by microbiologists for NSF International found that, on average, more germs live on the water fountain spigot and computer keyboard than on the toilet seat.
   
   Other germy spots include cafeteria trays, plates and utensils, desks, library tables and bathroom doors and surfaces. All sports equipment, football helmets, balls and wrestling mats are hot spots for staph and MRSA infections at school and should be disinfected with the proper dwell time.
   
   Electrostatic cleaning machines, such as the Clorox Total 360 System, can target-high-touch surfaces and hard-to-reach places in a variety of settings that standard application tools struggle to get.
4. Deep Clean Restrooms and Locker Rooms. Restrooms and locker rooms should be a top priority when doing a deep clean during break time. In addition to routine cleaning, toilets and sinks need to be thoroughly disinfected and extra attention paid to grout and drains, stall doors and walls, vents and light fixtures.
5. Make Floors a Priority. It’s vital that school floors and gymnasium surfaces be kept in optimal shape to prevent students and staff from slips, trips and falls. Sand, dirt, salt and grime have all made their mark on your school’s floors during the winter months. Without the heavy traffic in and out of the buildings every day, it’s the ideal time clean carpets, and repair, scrub, polish or refinish floors.

With the right plan, proper tools, and skilled cleaning staff, Spring Break time can be clean break time at school. At 4M, our Team Members will make sure your school is looking good, safe and as germ-free as possible when the kids and faculty head back to the classroom. It’s just another way we deliver the best, innovative, safe and sustainable cleaning and service solutions for your business. To learn more, give us a call or CLICK HERE to contact us.